Overshoe-boot



5, 1947. A. SHAFFER. 2,425,208

OVERSHOE-BOOT Filed Sept. 27, 1944 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 5, 1947 QVER HEQOE Alfred, Sha er, Mishawaka, Ind,assignor to Mi hwaka Rubb r and oo en a f u anew ihg Company, lyiishawaka, 1 nd,, a corporation Application September 27, 1944, SerialNo. 555,988

1 Claiml My invention relates to a combination overshoe-boot type offootwear which is adapted to be Worn optionally as a loosefitting bootOr as a close fitting overshoe or galosh, th upper thereof, like that ofan ordinary rubber boot, ha in no opening down the front orotherwisesuch as ordinarily provided in overshoes, and galoshe to permitexpansion of the upper for insertirgv the foot, but beingcircumferentially continuous and large enough to permit the foot to bereadily inserted, so that it is essentially a, loose fitting boot andmay be worn as such, the upper, how,- ever, being sufficiently flexibleand arranged; to be conveniently folded and secured in a form fittingmanner so that it may also be Worn as a form fitting overshoe or galoshif desired.

For this form fitting adaptation as an overshoe or galosh, a fastener,preferably of orna mental type, is employed for securing theupper in thefolded close fitting form, said fastener being so arranged that it notonly does not impair the utility or detract from the appearance of theovershoe-boot when used as a loose fitting boot but may serve as anornamental feature thereof. Moreover, the top of the overshooboot ispreferably formed in a manner to lend itself to the folding to the closefitting overshoe or galosh form and at the same time contribute styleand attractiveness to the oVershoe-boot both in the loose fitting bootand close fitting overshoe forms.

While the invention, or certain features thereof, may be used inconnection with footwear of other types, this invention is designedparticularly for use in waterproof footwear ofthe type that isordinarily worn over shoes, and is particularly advantageous therein asit insures a thoroughly waterproofed structure as the foot and legcovering are continuous and unbroken and devoid of any openings,inserts, or the like which are difiicult to seal and likely to causeleakage. Moreover, the invention provides an adaptability that isdesirable in waterprooffootwear as it is sometimes desirable to wearsuch footwear loosely in the manner of a bootand at other times in aneat snug fitting manner.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide an improvedarticle of footwear which is adapted to be worn optionally as a loosefitting boot or in a snug form fitting manner; to, construct thefootwear with a circumferentially continuous boot like upper which islarge enough to permit insertion of the foot and is foldable to andfastenable in a snug form fitting form; to construct the upper so thatit folds readil atthe forms; and to provide a structure which lendsitself to thorough waterproofiing, and although devoid of any openings,inserts,

or the like, such as are customarily employed in form fitting waterprooffootwear to permit expansion for insertionof the foot, is contractableto a snug form fitting form in which immunity to leakage is assuredthese and other objects being accomplished as more fully pointed outhereafter and as disclosed in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a combination overshoo -boot constructedin accordance with my invention and shown in the loose boot like form inwhich it may be worn;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the overshoebootin the contracted formfitting form in which it may be optionally worn; i 3 is a sectional Viewof the overshoe-boot upper taken on the line 33;of Fig. 1 and showingalso in section the form on which the overshoe-boot is constructed;

Eig. d is a sectional view of the oVershoe-boot upper taken on the linel4 of Fig. 2 and showing the upper in the folded form fitting form; andFig. 5 is, an enlarged fragmentary section of the overshoeeboot uppertaken on the line 55 Q Fi i:

Referring to, the drawing, which shows a waterproof overshoeboot of thetype to which the invention is particularly appliable and which isdesigned to be worn over the ordinary shoes, the referencen uneral 5indicates the foot portion of the overshoe-boot which is ofsubstantially conyentional overshoe or galosh construction with the heell and forepart 8 of suitable shape to accommodate the type of shoes overwhich the overshoe-boot is intended to be worn, the illustratedstructure having a high heel for high heel,- shoescornmonly worn bywomen.

It is to be understood of course that the foot portion 8, of theovershoe-boot may 'be of shapes diiferentthan that illustrated toconform to the particular types of shoes over which the overshoe-boot isintended to be worn and thatwhile the overshoe-boot illustrated is of aladies type, the invention is not limited thereto.

As is customary in waterproof footwear the bottom of the overshoe-boot,including the sole, heel, and shank are of rubber of suitable thicknessand suitably reinforced in the usual manner and the upper which isindicated generally at 9 comprises a lining I with an outer covering IIof rubber thereon.

The foot portion 6 of the upper, which is generally reinforced at thetoe and around the sole and around the heel and up the back in the usualmanner is shaped so that when the foot and shoe are inserted therein itwill cling thereto sufficiently to remain in place, whereas the portionof the upper 9 above the foot portion, is circumferentially continuousand sufficiently large and loose somewhat like an ordinary rubber boot,as shown in Fig. 1, so that the foot and shoe thereon may be readilyinserted into the overshoe-boot.

This upper 9 which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is preferably ofapproximately the height of the upper of conventional overshoes andgaloshes, while preferably light and flexible as pointed outhereinafter, is sufficiently self sustaining so that it will remainupright when the foot and leg of the wearer are inserted therein and maybe worn as it is shown in Fig. 1 as a loose top boot.

However, the front of the loose, flexible upper 9 is so constructed thatit will fold readily as shown in Fig. 2 to a form fitting form in whichit fits snugly and neatly over the instep and around the lower portionof the leg of the wearer, and a tab I2 with fastener is arranged atapproximately the juncture of the instep and lower leg portions, asshown in Fig. 2 to hold the upper 9 in this folded manner so that theovershoe-boot may be worn as a neat, close fitting overshoe or galoshwhen desired.

The tab I2 is permanently secured at the end I3 thereof to the upper 9at an appropriate place to overlie the fold and the opposite end I4 ofthe tab is provided with a fastener for attachment to the upper beyondthe fold. This fastener is preferably of the conventional snap fastenertype with the female element I5 thereof on the tab I2 and the maleelement [6 being preferably small and of the same color as the upper 9so that it is inconspicuous when exposed, as it is when theovershoe-boot is worn as a loose fitting boot as in Fig. 1.

For holding the loose end of the tab I2 in place when the overshoe-bootis in normal loose fitting boot form of Fig. 1, another male fastenerelement IT in provided on the upper 9 with which the female element I5is engageable, and the arrangement of the tab I2 is such that whenengaged with the fastener element H, the tab I2 is centrally disposedacross the front of the upper and has the appearance of a decorativefeature of the boot.

This tab I2 may have a decorative covering such, for example, as acrystal ornament I8 over the female fastener I5 to add to theattractiveness of the overshoe-boot and the tab itself is preferably ofornamental form so as to constitute a decorative and attractive featureof the overshoeboot in both the loose fitting and snug fitting formsthereof. Obviously a variety of arrangements of ornamental or decorativetypes may be employed in place of the disclosed tab I2 as, for example,it may be in the form of a bow or an ornamental buckle may overlie thetab I2 or even be used as the fastening means itself in place of the taband snap fastener.

To facilitate the folding of the upper at the selected place at thefront of the overshoe-boot the upper is formed with an inherent acuteangled bend I 9 extending up the front from a point substantially at orslightly above the base of the instep to the top of the foot and thisinherent bend I9 is of such a nature that when the tab I2 is pulled overto snap on the fastener element IS, the upper folds naturally along thebend I9 and lays neatly and compactly down against the side of the upperas indicated at I9 in Figs. 2 and 4. Moreover, this inherent bend I9tends to some extent to hold the loose upper in upright position andgives to the upper a creased front appearance that is more pleasing andattractive than an ordinary rounded upper.

As a further means to facilitate folding of the upper at the selectedplace, and at the same time impart attractiveness to the overshoe-boot,the top of the overshoe-boot is notched as at 20 at opposite sides ofthe front at the place where the folded front doubles back against theside of the upper so that the upper tends to double back at the placewhere the notches are deepest and there is accordingly less length ofstock to be bent. Preferably also the top of the boot is curvedgracefully downward at each side to the respective notch as indicated at2| and beyond the notches 20 the boot front tapers upwardly somewhat toa point 22 which is at a lower elevation than the main portion of theboot top so that it folds back against the side of the upper andsubstantially below the top thereof as shown in Fig. 2, and by reason ofthis notch 20, curve 2|, and front point 22 construction, theovershoe-boot not only has a unique and attractive top in the loosefitting boot form but in the folded close fitting form has a sort ofcollar like top with V-front which is desirable not only for itspleasing appearance but for comfort as well.

Obviously the upper and especially that portion thereof Where thefolding occurs should be relatively thin and flexible so as to foldreadily and avoid bulkiness. Preferably the entire upper, including thefoot portion thereof, is relatively light weight, thin, and flexiblewith only such reinforcing as is necessary for strength and stiffeningwhere and to the extent required so that the upper will fit neatly, foldreadily and permit freedom of movement without chafing or discomfort.Preferably also the entire upper is stretchy so as to accommodate somevariations in size of the shoe and leg on which it may be worn andinsure a neat snug fit.

Such an upper may be made by using a lining ID of knitted fabric such asstockinet arranged to stretch most readily in a directioncircumferentially of the upper and which, because of its loose texturemay be shaped quite readily to the overshoe-boot shape including thefoot portion thereof, and this lining is covered with a stretchy layer II of rubber so that the composite lining and rubber which is relativelythin and quite flexible, stretches quite readily and thus may bedistended if necessary in inserting the foot and shoe into theovershoe-boot and fits snugly on the inserted shoe so that theovershoe-boot is retained securely thereon in use.

Footwear of this character is commonly made on a last, the lining,rubber surfacing, sole, heel, reinforcings, etc., being assembledthereon after which the assembled structure is vulcanized whileremaining on the last.

For the illustrated overshoe-boot a last is employed which as heretoforeindicated is tapered at the front to form an angular ridge 23 extendingup the front from approximately the base of the instep or somewhatthereabove to the top of the last so as to form the acute angular bend19 at the front of the overshoe-boot, and the stretchy lining is appliedon this last and lasted over an insole in the usual manner after whichthe reinforcing are applied and the overshoe-boot completed thereon inthe usual manner and vulcanized, the tab 12 being also preferablysecured at its end It to the assembled overshoe-boot at the time so thatit becomes Vulcanized thereto. Preferably the tab 12 is secured to theupper 9 throughout the entire end portion I3 thereof up to the bend I9so that it is loose only at and beyond the bend 19, as this arrangementtends to localize the folding at the bend l9.

The rubber surfacing l I may be calendered onto the lining material 10before the latter is assembled on the last, as is well known in theindustry, a relatively thin rubber surfacing preferably being employed,or the lining with the insole and reinforcings may be assembled on thelast and the rubber surfacing ll then applied on the assembled lining bydipping the assembly in a rubber dispersion or by spraying the rubberdispersion thereon as is also well known in the rubber industry.

A rubber finishing strip 23 is preferably applied around the top of theovershie-boot before vulcanization, and the fastener element [5 may beapplied to the tab and the fastener elements it and I l to the upper,either before or after vulcanization as desired.

In galoshes and overshoes of form fitting type as commonly made, theupper is slit or divided to provide an expansion opening so that theupper may be expanded for inserting the foot, and an expansible bellowslike closure is usually provided for this opening and folds together atthe inside of the upper when the expansion opening is closed together inthe form fitting form in which it is intended to be worn.

Thus in conventional galoshes and overshoes the upper is notcircumferentially continuous but is divided at the expansion opening andsuch galoshes or overshoes are not adapted to be worn in a loose manneras they are unsightly and uncomfortable unless closed. Moreover, theexpansion opening of such galoshes and overshoes is difficult to sealsatisfactorily and is oftentimes the source of leakage.

With my present construction, however, the upper is circumferentiallycontinuous with no opening, insert, or the like which are likely to be asource of leakage, and accordingly the upper is completely waterproof inboth the folded and non-folded forms. Moreover, because of thecontinuous unbroken upper, it is neat and attractive in the loose,unfolded form and accordingly may be worn in that manner as a loosefitting boot or it may be folded and Worn as a snug fitting galosh orovershoe in which form it also has a neat attractive appearance.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I amaware that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is to bedetermined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A bootee with a thin, flexible, elastically stretchy upper and having asnug elastically stretchy form fitting foot portion by which the booteeis securely held on the foot of the wearer, the portion of the upperabove said foot portion being circumferentially continuous and loosefitting to admit the foot therethrough and foldable at the front alongthe instep and thereabove to snug fitting form, and means attached tothe foldable portion at the upper end of the instep for folding saidportion laterally against the front of the bootee and detachablyfastenable to the bootee to hold said portion in snug fitting laterallyfolded position, said foldable portion having laterally spaced notchesat the top where it folds laterally against the front of the bootee.

ALFRED E. SHAFFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,297,656 LHollier Sept. 29, 19421,840,241 Manville Jan. 5, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date13,240 Great Britain Sept. 14, 1916

